As thedy behind the counter handed Re''Kha the metal b, her hand trembled, "The amount you submitted totals to 21,762 RuQi. Your seat number is printed at the back of the b."
She then recounted the same exnation she had given to Ki''Nua, finally pointing at the door beside. Followed by a nod, Re''Kha opened the door and entered the path inside. It was a flight of stairs, carpeted to allow silent traversal.
Once Re''Kha had left, thedy behind the countermented, "These Harmonisers from the Elemental ns have amassed a lot of money. Once the quality of treasures has increased, they are bringing them out one after another."
"Indeed, this is precisely the reason we are conducting an auction in the first ce." Another Harmoniser from behind hermented, "Otherwise, these Elemental ns would affect the value of our coins as they please."
"Still," Thedy behind the counter gazed at the door Re''Kha had passed through, "She seems young but possesses shocking wealth. Does any Elder from the Elemental ns in our state match her description?"
"No idea. Though, we can obtain a lot of information about her based on her actions in the auction."
She didn''t have to travel much before Re''Kha arrived at the main entrance. It was a spacious passage, at the end of which was the entrance into the auction house. Ki''Nua had already entered, so Re''Kha didn''t dy and proceeded through the entrance, gawking in surprise at the sheer size of the auction house.
''This can seat at least 3000 people.'' The quantity itself was pretty high. After all, auctions were usually attended by people in the hundreds. There were times when an auction only had participants in the double digits.
Even though she hadn''t participated in one before, she did hear some basic information about them. So, Re''Kha wasn''tpletely clueless about auctions.
A ce to seat 3000 people wouldn''t be very big. But in this case, because every person had an individual box to be seated within, the space upied by 3000 seats was massive.
The auction house was shaped like a fan, with the stage set on the tip. And from there, the seats were ced on rings that acted as steps. This way, everyone was able to see the stage clearly. Moreover, the steps were steep.
Each box had a chair meant for one where two people could be seated side by sidefortably. ced before the chair was a cylindrical tform, and forming an indent on it, shaped into a rectangle was where the metal b had to be inserted.
And, ced right next to it were four levers. The levers were simple. They could be pulled and pushed. When pulled, each lever would lift a metal te. And, inscribed on each metal te was a number.
There were four number tes in total, inscribed with the numbers ''1'', ''10'', ''100'', and ''1000'' respectively. Except for the front, all other sides of the box were covered. Moreover, the cylindrical tform was ced in such a way no one else would be able to see the number inscribed on the metal b ced in it.
This was to prevent people from peaking into their box while passing by the entrance in search of their seats. In an auction, the wealth one possessed mattered the most, especially in their auction structure, since no one was able to recharge money once the auction started. Therefore, knowing the money one had brought with them was a tremendous advantage.
That was why steps were taken to ensure nothing of the sort would happen. ques were hung at the entrance of every box, dictating their seat numbers. And, as they were arranged in order, it was easy for Re''Kha to locate her seat.
She walked through the narrow path present in every row, leading into all the boxes ced on it. Finally arriving before her box, Re''Kha looked at the que, reading in her mind, ''Number 207.''
She seated herself inside, taking out the b from inside her gown. There was a pocket stitched in the gown, designed especially to hold the metal b. Moreover, the way it was stitched prevented anyone else from determining the number printed on the metal b, even through the protrusion.
''Thankfully, everything here is inscribed. So, I don''t have to struggle to read.'' Re''Kha heaved a sigh in relief, noticing the seat of Ki''Nua, seeing that she was seated in seat number 200.
As for her mother, she was seated in seat number 11. The earlier one arrived at the auction, the nearer to the stage they were allotted a seat. Depending on their preference, people arrived at the auction ordingly.
Auction veterans were precisely able to time themselves and arrive at the exact moment to obtain the seat they desired to be seated at.
After cing her metal b in its designated socket, Re''Kha rxed on her chair. In this ce, where measures were taken to prevent people from ncing at the metal bs of others, Re''Kha had the full advantage.
Wind Qi Perception!
Re''Kha expanded her perception, going through the metal bs of everyone seated around her, proceeding through the lot one after another. Upon seeing the difference in the amount of money they had brought, she rxed.
But soon, her rxed posture disappeared as people continued to arrive, bringing with them bigger and bigger denominations. There were even some who brought as much money as her. And upon seeing the way they carried themselves, even though they were covered by a gown, their identities were obvious.
n Heads!
Only they were able to match the amount of money Re''Kha had brought with her. Soon, everyone was seated in their respective ces as Re''Kha used the pen and paper ced on her chair''s armrest to scribble some words.
She used alphabets to dictate the seat numbers of each n Head, intending to tally their expenditure. And, upon seeing how Re''Kha wasn''t the only person doing this, she wryly smiled, realising the entire auction was one big mental battle.
The n Heads hadn''t sauntered in their signature gaits without reason. They were simply announcing their presence, deterring others from trying topete with them for the items they bid. Their actions simply meant one thing: Only fellow n Heads were worthy ofpeting against them in a contest of numbers.